Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Traveling Hobbit: Part 1 "A Stroll to the Dragon"

The Road goes ever on and on Out from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, Let others follow it who can! Let them a journey new begin, But I at last with weary feet Will turn towards the lighted inn, My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

The traveling Hobbit is not something you see much of outside of the Shire. However Hobbits roam the Shire freely walking here an there to visit there friends and relations or sometimes down the road to the Green Dragon or the Ivy Bush.

Lets take a look at what a hobbit grabs as he goes out the door of his hobbits hole...
Here is his pipe. This pipe is made of clay and has been smoked plenty by the hobbit, as you can tell by the black stained bowl and stem.

Here is his pocket handkerchief. If you remember in the Hobbit, Bilbo leaves with out them. Gandalf brings him a whole bundle of them along with his pipe.

Here is a apple that he might have stuffed in his pocket. Sam is given a whole pocket full when the four hobbits and Strider leave bree. Sam was fond of apples.

Here is a little knife a hobbit might stick in his belt to shave off an apple peel or to skin a rabbit if he was hunting. We know that Sam knew how to skin a rabbit.

Here's the waistcoat and breeches. The waistcoat is made of wool and the breeches are a cotton canvas.

Here is the coat over the waistcoat.

To top off the coat and waistcoat a hand woven wool scarf has been put on.

Now he is dressed and ready for the walk to the Green Dragon or cross country an hour or so to his cousins house in the next town to sup and spend the night.
At his side is a haversack for his apple and maybe some extra pipe-weed to give to his cousin as a "thank you" for supper.
His walking stick is made of hickory and provides a good crutch to rest on while he stops along the road to smoke his pipe.

I will posting some more pictures of the clothes and such up close in a second post tomorrow (the computer is loading slow).

Remember to check back for Part 2 "There and Back Again" to be posted in April.

I plan to go on a 2 day trek dressed in Hobbit gear and have pictures of my pack, all I am carrying along with pictures of the journey.

Mission Statement

The Middle Earth Reenactment Society is dedicated to the research, sharing, and preservation of the works and worlds of Middle-Earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Through the careful study of both Historical Resources and Professor Tolkien’s writings, our goal is to reflect the cultures, races, and places of Middle-Earth in the most realistic way possible. By maintaining the integrity of the text and the historical accuracy found in real, functional clothing, tools, and weapons, we strive to create the most accurate portrayal of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth as he intended it to be.

Members of the Middle Earth Reenactment Society are expected to use historically appropriate materials and patterns to make authentic garb that reflects the cultures of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth at a high quality. Members should be able to easily describe their gear, including how and why it fits into their chosen culture, using the books as the main source of reference. Equipment and gear should be functional as well as fitting into the cultures as described by the books. A strictly film-based interpretation will not do, seeing as how films often differ dramatically from the books. Because of this and the lack of effort required, a strictly store-bought interpretation will not serve you well here either. Our members strive to have the most realistic, legitimate outward appearances possible; a goal artificial weathering cannot achieve any more than imitation materials. Please consider this if you pursue membership, and do the works of J.R.R. Tolkien justice.